Wrench



(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 1. E. B. SMITH.

WRENCH.

No. 497,138. Patented MayQ, 1893.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. B. SMITH.

(NoModel.)

WRBNOH.

Patented Maj 9, 1893.

'me wams Pcrews C0.. muro-umu UNITED STATES .PATENT` OFFICE.

EMERY B. SMITH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TOLOUIS O. BILLON, WILLIAM E. VAOI-I, AND JOSEPH W. PIOKEL, OF

SAME PLACE.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,138, dated May 9,1893. Application filed October 3, 1892. Serial Nol 447,644. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EMERY B. SMITH, of the city of St. Louis and Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inI/Vrenches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in wrenches, and consists in thenovel arrangement and construction of parts as will be' more fullyhereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

The object of my invention is to construct a wrench having an adjustablelocking-jaw adapted to be instantaneously released from its engagementwith the article to be operated and at the same time including asimpleness and durability in construction, which will guarantee thecertain operation of the wrench.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my completeinvention, showing the handle and ferrule in section, and other parts indetail. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the wrench, with a portion ofthelocking-jaw and ferrule broken away and showing a modified form of ameans for releasing the locking-jaw,thesamebeingdifferent from the oneshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of thedevice used as shown in Fig. l to release the locking-jaw.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in detail, of the moving adjustablelocking-jaw and its depending shanks. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of acomplete wrench, showing milled surfaces for hand contact, and amodified construction, the operation of which releases the lockingjaw.Fig. 6 is across-sectional view taken on a line a ain Fig. 1. Fig. 7 isa cross-sectional view taken on a line b b in Fig. 2.` Fig. 8 is across-sectional view taken on a line c c in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a rearelevation, of the wrench shown in Fig. 5 with parts of same broken away.Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 2, theoperation of which releases the locking-jaw. Fig. 11 is a perspectivedetail view of the device shown in Fig. 5, to release the locking-jaw.

Referring to the drawings: 1 indicates the complete Wrench, having ashank 2, a fixed jaw 3 upon one 'end of said shank 2 and at right angleswith its front and rear' faces. The fixed-jaw 3 projects a greaterdistance from the front face of the shank` 2. than from the rear, inorder to present a gripping surface 1n front of the shank and a peeninghammer beyond the rear face of same. V

At a point intermediate of the length of the shank 2 and nearer to theend opposite to the jaw 3, and upon the front face of said shank 2, area number of ratchet teeth 4 for purposes more fully hereinafterdescribed;

The end 5 of the shank 2 is slightly tapered and provided upon theextreme end with an exteriorly screw-threaded portion 6 which is of muchless diameter than the next immediate portion 7, which is circular incross-sec tion thus differing `from the main portion of the shank 2,which is rectangular in crosssection.

The sliding adjustable jaw 8 is similar in form to the jaw 3, exceptthat that portion beyond the rear face of the shank 2, is shorter thanthe extending portion of the jaw 3. The u pper or inner surface of saidlocking-j aw 8 is sllghtly outwardly and downwardly inclined in orderthat an object may be more firmly held by the wrench when in operation.As is usudal 1in vvlench construction, the jaw 8 is prov1 et wit arectangular o en'nff fits over the shank 2. c p 1 m which Adjacent thefront face of the shank 2, depending from the jaw S and preferablyintegrally therewith, is an arm 9, which is provided near its lower endand upon its inner face with a number of projecting ratchet teeth 10,adapted to engage in the teeth 4 hereinbefore described.

A ferrule 11 substantially rectangularshaped in cross-section isprovided, to not only protect the parts,but also upon its front innersurface 12, is secured a spring 13 which is secured near the lower edgeof said ferrule 11, and projects upwardly to the upper edoe of saidferrule 11, and at this point has aan outwardly projecting portion 14which is adapted to project over the upper edge of said ferrule 11, toprevent the ingress of dirt filings, dac., which would materiallydeterio rate the operation of the device.

A handle 15 preferably constructed of wood has a hollow chamber 16therein, which is substantially about two thirds of the length of saidhandle and which continues into a round bore 17, in which the roundportion 7 of the shank 2 is adapted to tit. The handle 15 is provideduponits upper periphery with an upwardly projecting flange 18 which isless in circumference, than said periphery and which is adapted to titinto adepression 19 in the inner periphery of said ferrule 11, in orderto hold said handle in a prescribed position. A nut 20 provided with acentral and interiorly screw-threaded bore 2l, is adapted to be screwedupon the exteriorly screw-threaded portion 6 of the shank 2, to holdsaid handle 15. Said nut 20 is circular in cross-section, and tapersinwardly at its extremity, in order to complete the finish ofthe wrench,and upon its exterior flat surface is provided with a slot by means ofwhich said nut 2l may be adjusted by means of a screw driver or asimilar device.

The function of the spring 13 will be readily understood by reference tothe drawings, wherein the upper end of said spring is shown as distendedfrom the inner face l2 of said ferrule 11, thus compelling the arm 9'toremain in contact with the teeth 4 upon the front face of the shank 2,by means of its projecting teeth l0, and the portion 14, which ispractically at right angles with the length of the spring extends overthe upper edge of the ferrule 11.

In Fig. 5 of the illustrations, I have shown portions of both side facesof the jaw 8 and the arm 9 adjacent said jaw 8, roughened or milled tofacilitate the grasping of the jaw 8 and its arm 9 to release theposition of the jaw 8 and widen the breach between the two innersurfaces of the jaws 3 and 8, which may be done by slightly incliningthe arm 9 and jaw 8 outwardly, thus disengaging the teeth 10 from theteeth 4 and compressing the spring 13.

In the improvements are included various means for compressing thespring 13 and allowing the reversing of the jaw 8, other than the meansjust described.

In Fig. 1 at a point intermediate of the length of the shank 2, andrunning transversely through same, is a circular bore 22 having counterbores 23 adjacent the front and rear face of said shank 2. Into thisconstruction is adapted to be inserted, a device 24 which undercompression, releases the engagement of the teeth 4 and 10. It consistsin a shank 25 with a button 26 upon one end of same, which is adapted tofit into the counter bore 23 in the front face of said shank 2. Afterthe construction in this form has been placed in position, the end 27 isiiattened out to prevent the device from slipping through the bore 22.The shank 25 between the inner faces of the portions 26 and 27, is ofsuch a length that upon the compression or pushing in of the button 26,the arm 9 is moved a similar distance, thus releasing the engagement ofthe teeth 4 and 10 and allowing the reversing of the jaw 8.

In Figs. 2 and 7 I have shown a modified form of construction by the useof which the same end is attained. In this construction I locate thepushing device 28 in a thickened portion 29 of the ferrule 1l. YThedevice 28 consist-s of a shank 30, a portion 3l at one end at rightangles with the shank 30, and a button 32 upon the opposite or outerend. A longitudinal portion 33 of the front face of the shank 2 is cutaway, to allow the operation of the arm 3l, between the arm 9 and shank2, without interfering with the function of the teeth 4 and 10. Theshank 30 is located and operative in a horizontal bore 34 which extendsfrom the rearside ofthe fer- Y rule 11 inwardly a desired distance. Bypressing in upon the button 32 the arm 31 engages the arm 9 oty the jaw8 and compresses the spring 13. Thus it will be seen thatvthisconstruction and arrangement of modified parts bring about the sameresults as the constructions hereinbefore shown and described, namelythe releasing of the jaw 8 and attendant parts.

In Figs. 5 and 8 I have shown still another modified construction, theresult of its operation being similar to the others. In this form theferrule' 11 has the bulged-out portion 29 and in the side of saidferrule 11 at a point opposite to the joint of the arm 9 and shank 2, isa center bore 35 with and enlarged counter' bore 36 which opens directfrom the side face of said ferrule 11. The front face of the shank 2 hasa longitudinal inclined cut-out portion 37 into which is adapted to fita wedged shaped projection 38 upon one end of the shank 39 which isadapted to iit into the circular bore 35, and the opposite end of saidshank 39 provided with a button 40. Thus bypushing in upon the button 40the wedge 38 is tightened in its slot, thus forcing the arm 9 outwardlyand releasing the engagement of the teeth 4 and 10.

My improved wrench is exceptionally simple in its operation and it isbelieved that no amount of rough usage will in any way affect itssuccessful operation. The function of the inclined upper face of themovable jaw 8, materially aids the gripping of an object. To illustratethis development, it will be seen that it might be desired to apply thewrench to a nut which was of such a diameter that when the jaws werespread apart, the ratchet teeth 10 would strike intermediate ofthe teeth4. As the nut would not allow of any forcing of the jaw 8 to the nextnotch,it would necessitate the returning of the jaw to the next notchbackward, thus leaving the wrench loose upon the nut and if the nutwereapolished one, it would necessarily be marred. By using thedownwardly inclined face of the jaw'8, the operator is enabled to graspthe nut firmly at some point between the front face of the shank 2 andthe outer end of the jaws 3 and 8 thus IOC IIO

preventing any lost movement upon the nut.

The bending over of the spring 13, over the upper edge of the ferrule l1forms an important feature, as it prevents any dirt, filings, oil, dsc.,from entering into the chamber between the arm 9 and inner face 12,which would materially aifect the operationof the spring and attendantparts. The superior advantages gained by the several ways in which Ihave 4shown means for loosening and releasing the jaw 8 and arm 9 fromengagement with the shank 2 will be obvious. Owing to the position ofthe teeth 4 and 10, the jawS and arm 9 may be readily pushed upwardtoward the jaw 3 by the hand, as owing to this arrangement of the teeth,the teeth 10 readily ride over the teeth 4. e

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. As animprovement in wrenches, the combination, with a hollow handle carryinga shank, the latter being provided with a fixed jaw and with ratchetteeth intermediate its length, and a reciprocating arm provided with ajaw and with opposing ratchet teeth, of a spring secured at its lowerend to the interior surface of the handle opposite the front face of thereciprocating arm,and having its upper end bent outwardly and closingthe opening to the hollow handle; substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. An improved wrench having a ferrule secured to the shank, a chamberformed by said ferrule,in front of said shank,a movingjaw, an armdepending from said moving-jaw, said arm operative in said chamber, aspring secured near the lower end and upon the inner face of saidferrule opposite the front face of said arm, said spring adapted tonormally keep said arm against the shank, and said spring having itsupper extremity bent outwardly at right angles with its length, toprevent the ingress of dirt into the chamber within said ferrule,substantially as set forth.

3. An improved wrench having a ferrule secured to the shank, amoving-jaw operative upon, and a depending arm operative adjacent saidshank, said depending arm adapted to reciprocate within a chamber formedby said ferrule, a hollow handle or casing adapted to fit over the lowerend of said shank, said handle secured in position against said ferruleby a screw-nut, and an interior chamber in said handle in which saiddepending arm is adapted to reciprocate, substantially as set forth. y

4. As an improvement in wrenches, the combination, with a shank providedwith a rigid jaw, a hollow handle, and with ratchetteeth upon its frontface within the handle, a reciprocating arm carrying a jaw and providedat its lower end with ratchet-teeth opposing the ratchet-teeth on theshank, and a spring secured within the handle and adapted to normallyhold said arm against the shank, of a linger projecting between said armand the shank, and means for operating said finger to separate the armand shank; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An improved wrench having a shank 2, a movable jaw 8 adapted toreciprocate upon said shank 2, a depending arm 9 therefrom, a ferrule 11secured to said shank 2, said ferrule 11 havingits side near its upperextremity thickened, a horizontal bore 34, a pushing dei vice 28operative therein, said device`28 consisting of a shank 30, and endportions 2l bent at right angles therewith, a button 32 upon theopposite end of said shank 30, a longitudinal cut-out portion 33, inwhich said bent portion 3l of the shank 30 is adapted to operate, andthe pushing in of the said button 32 adapted to compress the spring 13and release the engagement of the teeth in the serrations, substantiallyas set forth.

6. An improved wrench having a shank 2, a fixed jaw 3 preferably formedtherewith, a movable jaw 8, an arm 9 depending therefrom, a ferrule 11secured to said shank 2, a spring 13 secured interior of said ferrule11, and nor-` mally adapted to keep said arm 9 in contact with saidshank 2, and portions of said arm 9 and movable jaw 8 roughened ormilled to facilitate hand contact, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMERY B. SMITH. Witnesses:

HERBERT S. ROBINSON, ED LONGAN.

